Basil Remedies

Sweet Basil Remedies

The Sweet Basil Plant (Also Known As Holy Basil)

Sweet basil is a well recognised herb, that is grown frequently worldwide. This strong smelling annual enjoys a sunny spot in the garden, it can also be easily grown in the garden or in a pot on a window sill.

In this country we grow basil herb for use in the kitchen but it has also been used by other cultures for thousands of years as a natural medicine and in love spells. Basil gets its name from the Greek word basilikon meaning royal.

How to gather and store sweet basil

Keep a pot of sweet basil on your window-sill to use fresh all year round, or you can pick the leaves, dry them and keep in an air tight jar for future use. Chopped basil herb can also be frozen.

How To Dry Basil

An airing cupboard or any warm dark place is the ideal place to dry basil herb. The first step is to wash all parts of the plant thoroughly, pat dry between kitchen towel and remove any unwanted or bad parts. Next take a box and line the bottom with kitchen towel, on top of this place a layer of basil and then another layer of kitchen towel on top, place in airing cupboard or any other appropriate place until dried.

Another way to dry the basil plant, is to hang bunches upside down until they become brittle, but not too dry so that they crumble, at this point you can strip the stalks of leaves and flowers and keep in an air tight jar. Alternately you can place a paper bag round each bundle of basil before hanging to dry, the bag will catch any falling leaves.

Organic Basil For Remedies

Freezing Basil

Basil leaves are suitable for freezing, the best way to do this is by using the following method: Wash plants thoroughly, remove any stems or bad parts, cut parts to be used into fine strips, or small pieces, with scissors, and pack into an ice cube tray, place in freezer, when frozen transfer herb cubes into freezer bags and label.

Basil Benefits

Basil benefits: Sweet basil has tranquilising properties, it is calming, relieves nausea and stomach cramps, it is good for headaches, stress and anxiety, Basil can improve the appetite and help relieve flatulence and a bloated stomach. It is astringent and good for colds, sore throats and if inhaled relives a blocked nose. Basil herb can be also used to treat acne.

In cooking it is great with tomatoes, and is used alongside olive oil, parmesan and pine nuts to make green pesto.

Basil Remedies

Soothing basil throat gargle: Take about 20 basil leaves, put them in a pan with half a pint of boiling water, bring to the boil then simmer for up to fifteen minutes. (Make sure to check that the water has not boiled away.) Take off the heat, cover the pan and leave to cool. When cool strain the mixture and gargle with it in the morning, mid-day, and evening.

Calming facial dab: Follow the instructions above to make the throat gargle, when mixture is cooled soak a soft cloth or some cotton wool in the mixture and dab onto skin to help heal and calm acne.

Unblock me bath inhalant: take two handfuls of basil leaves and throw into an empty bath, fill the bath using the hot water first, as the heat will release the active ingredients which will be carried in the steam, add the cold water until you reach desired temperature and then lie back inhale the steam and relax.

Relieving basil tea: Put four or five leaves in a cup, pour on boiling water, cover and leave to infuse for ten minutes, when cool strain and drink. This tea can help relieve nausea, stomach cramps, headaches, stress and anxiety and also help improve appetite.

Basil Warnings

Not for medicinal use by children.

Use sparingly if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Do not take consistently for too long a time.

Sweet basil facts

In Northern Europe men would use basil herb to test the honour of their wife to be, they would place a basil leaf in her hand, if it withered it meant that she was not honourable.

According to Nicholas Culpepper a French physician called Hilarius once told that an acquaintance of his had smelled basil and as a result a scorpion grew in his brain, below is a quote about the sweet basil plant from Culpeppers Complete Herbal.

“Mizaldus affirms, that being laid to rot in horse dung, it will breed venomous beasts.”

Sweet Basil Tea Bags

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